Old Webster Business District Advisory Commission

Old Webster Special Business District Advisory Commission MEETING MINUTES APPROVED MEETING DATE: Tuesday, July 25, 2023 LOCATION: City Hall & Zoom CALLED TO ORDER: 8:07 AM MEETING ADJOURNED: 9:11 AM NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, August 22, 2023 NAME PRESENT ABSENT Ron Clipp, Chair X Tim Delanty X Stacie Swederska X Dan Warner X Karen Drexler X David Smith X Frank Romano X Emerson Smith, Council Liaison X Eric Peterson, City Liaison X Also, in attendance: Dick Peterson – Rotary Club of Webster Groves Joe Rath – Former Commission Member Officer Ahmar Rasool – Webster Groves Police Department Fran Sudekum – Administrative Support Approval of Minutes – A motion to approve the July 12th minutes was made by Dan Warner, seconded by Ron Clipp, and unanimously approved. Visitor Comments – Dick Peterson, Rotary Club of Webster Groves, shared the Club is considering putting a four-sided post clock on the sidewalk at the Lockwood and Gore intersection in front of the U.S. Bank building to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Club and is looking for feedback from the Commission. Rotary’s seal would be on the pedestal. The clock would be a gift to the City from the Club, and they would maintain it. Commission Members liked the idea. Parks Department/Staff Communication – Eric Peterson has met with Scott Davis, Director of the Parks & Recreation Department; another meeting is planned as well, which will include the City Manager. Going forward, Parks Department plans affecting the Old Webster Business District will be put in writing and communicated with the Commission. Should those plans take a different tact than what the Commission has decided, the City will pause their decision and come back to the Commission to discuss; if needed a special meeting will be called in order to meet City timetables. Inviting Mr. Davis to a Commission meeting so both sides can share their broader vision and plans for the area was suggested. 1 of 3 Chair Ron Clipp postulated a lack of communication appears to have taken place regarding the disposition of the Concrete Park; the Commission’s voice on the use of the area was not evidently communicated thoroughly to the Parks Department or Parks chose to disregard the Commission’s vision for the area. Commission Member Stacie Swederska would like the Concrete Park restored to its previous condition so it could continue to be used as a space during District events, a location for a potential kiosk wayfinder for the area, etc. Council Member and Commission Liaison Emerson Smith will request the matter be put on a Council work session agenda to get a better understanding of the issue at hand. Commission Members will be notified of the scheduled work session. Commission Members recognize the Commission is advisory and makes recommendations to City Council and accept Council’s decisions. Note: Ordinance 9218 repealed Chapter 4 Boards and Commissions in its entirety and replaced it with a new Chapter 4 Boards and Commissions. Chapter 4 states how boards and commissions are governed. Decorative Parking Signs Update – No report Rooftop Lighting Update – No report Decorative Holiday Lighting – There are six lampposts on Rock Hill Road between Lockwood and Kirkham that have electricity access. Two of those poles reside within District boundaries and could support a holiday lighting fixture. After looking at the options and associated costs, Commission Members decided wrapping the lampposts with garland, strands of lights, and a bow would be a simpler approach and would match the garland-wrapped lampposts (sans lights) in the rest of the district. MOTION: Tim Delanty made a motion to purchase garland, light strands, and bows to decorate the two Rock Hill Road lampposts that are in the District. Dan Warner seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved. MOTION: Dave Smith made a motion to put a cap of $500 on the purchase of the Rock Hill lamppost garland, light strands, and bows. Frank Romano seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved. Business License Update – Business licenses will be going to an online renewal process which will include a calculator to figure the amount of tax to be paid. Revenue from business licenses in Old Webster have come in better than expected this year District Appearance – Power washing sidewalks could improve the appearance of the District. In addition, trash and weeds in the grates around the trees need to be removed. During the fall, leaf removal will need to be handled as well. With a reduction of personnel in the Parks Department, the work performed by them in the Business Districts has been reduced. Commission Members posited looking at options to engage outside contractors to potentially do some of the work. Currently, there is no defined scope of work performed by the Parks Department. Perhaps a non-governmental agency/non-profit association could address such activities with an Ambassador Program via a memorandum of understanding. Commission Member Tim Delanty will pursue getting bids on just the power washing of the sidewalks in the District. 2 of 3 District Benches – The bench mid-block in front of Straub’s is in such bad shape it is a hazard and needs to be removed and another put in its place. Commission Member Dan Warner proposed as benches need to be replaced, to replace them with the “wood” slot style benches. District Flowerpots – Ron Clipp is putting together an inventory of pots in the District. BDC Update – The BDC is planning a second Business Coffee set for August 30th at the Rec Center. City Update – • Straub’s has not pursued their request for additional parking permits. • The budget excess for last year was the result of a one-time shot; City Council is still working to get out of the structural deficit. • The full Strategic Plan City Council has been working on was adopted on July 18; it can be found on the City website at https://www.webstergrovesmo.gov/682/Strategic-Planning Next Meeting – August 22 at 8:00 AM Adjournment – Meeting adjourned at 9:11 AM 3 of 3